NHTSA Complaint #10408435 — 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA

I MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BREAK AND THEN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE ENGINE RACED BUT THERE WAS A PAUSE FOR ABOUT A SECOND BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED WITH A LOUD BANG. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD AS THE TIRES BRIEFLY PEELED OUT. IN RESPONSE TO THAT OUR 5 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER SAID "IT'S OK, IT WAS JUST A BUMP". IT IS NOT OK. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN AUTO DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND THEY WROTE "TRANSMISSION IS ON ITS WAY OUT TECHNICIAN ADVISED REPLACEMENT, ...". THIS 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS 112576 MILES ON IT, AND WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF IT. WE HAVE HAD MANY COSTLY EQUIPMENT FAILURES WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD COST US ABOUT $4000. THIS IS UNFAIR, AND I NOW QUESTION THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AS DESIGNED. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA REGARDING THIS ISSUE. SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS INDICATE THAT THE PAUSE BEFORE SHIFTING CAN BE MANY SECONDS. WHAT IF A PERSON CAN'T GET THE CAR TO MOVE, THEN STEPS OUT OF THE CAR TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. THEIR CAR COULD JUMP INTO GEAR AND TAKE OFF WITHOUT THEM IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FAILURE HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR. THE FAILURE HAPPENS WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE, FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. THE CAR HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. *TR